Shipping unit

ABSTRACT

A shipping unit for shipping items of varying length defines first and second tray sections which are connected and selectively move relative to one another to accommodate items of varying lengths. The first and second tray sections include base portions that allow shipping units to be stacked upon one another. Alternatively, the shipping unit includes a tray and a lid. The lid is connected to the tray and defines a tab and a slot on an end of the lid opposite the tab. The shipping units are connected by snap fitting the tab of one shipping unit into the slot of another shipping unit.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No.60/512,024, filed on Oct. 17, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an adjustable shipping tray particularly forshipping items of varying lengths. One example of the items of varyinglength is bath tiles. Many new and remodeled bathrooms now include alarge single tile behind the bathtub against the back wall. Theseelongated tiles extend from one end of the bathtub to the other. Becauseof their length, these tiles are particularly susceptible to damageduring shipping and transport to the installation site. At the sametime, because of their length, these tiles are also expensive, such thatbreakage is particularly costly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A shipping unit according to the present invention provides anadjustable shipping tray for shipping items of varying length.

The shipping unit of the present invention provides a first tray sectionand a second tray section. The first tray section includes parallelupper and lower bottom walls which define a slot there between, opposedside walls, an end wall, and an open end opposite the end wall. Aforward portion of the lower bottom wall extends adjacent to the openend. The second tray section defines a bottom wall, opposing side walls,an end wall, and an open end opposing the end wall. A forward tongueextends forwardly away from the open end and is received within the slotof the first tray section such that the first and second tray sectionsare connected and may be moved relative to one another to accommodatetiles of varying lengths. The first and second tray sections furtherinclude base portions extending downwardly from the bottom walls forstacking of the shipping units.

In a second embodiment, the shipping unit includes a tray with open sidewalls and a lid connected to one of the side walls via a hinge. The lidincludes an outwardly projecting tab and a slot on the opposite end ofthe lid from the tab. The shipping units are connected by snap fittingthe tab of one shipping unit into the slot of another shipping unit.

The shipping unit of the present invention provides a stackable shippingtray that protects objects, such as costly tiles, when shipping andeasily adjusts to accommodate various lengths of objects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages of the present invention can be understood by referenceto the following detailed description when considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shipping unit according to a firstembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of three of the shipping units of FIG. 1stacked together.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of three shipping units of FIG. 1 holdingbath tiles and stacked upon one another.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a shipping unit according to a secondembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of two connected shipping units of FIG. 4containing a bath tile.

FIG. 6 illustrates the shipping units of FIG. 5 stacked upon otheradjacent connected pairs of shipping units.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A shipping unit 10 in accordance with a first embodiment of the presentinvention is shown in FIG. 1. The shipping unit 10 includes a first traysection 12 and a second tray section 14. The first tray section 12includes an upper bottom wall 16 and a lower bottom wall 18 generallyparallel to one another and spaced apart to define a slot 19. One ormore holes 20 may also be formed in the upper bottom wall 16.

The first tray section 12 further includes a pair of opposed side walls22 extending upwardly from the upper and lower bottom walls 16, 18. Thefirst tray section 12 further includes an end wall 24 extending upwardlyfrom the upper bottom wall 16. A handle 26 is formed on an exteriorsurface of the end wall 24. The first tray section 12 includes an openend 27 opposite the end wall 24. A forward portion 28 of the lowerbottom wall 18 is adjacent the open end 27. The upper bottom wall 16does not extend above the forward portion 28 of the lower bottom wall18. The first tray section 12 further includes base portions 29extending downwardly.

The second tray section 14 includes a bottom wall 36 up from whichextend opposing side walls 42 and an end wall 44. The handle 46 isformed on an exterior surface of the end wall 44. The second traysection 14 has an open end 47 opposite the end wall 44. A forward tongue48 extends forwardly away from the open end 47 of the second traysection 14. The second tray section 14 includes a base portion 49extending downwardly.

The forward tongue 48 of the second tray section 14 is received withinthe slot 19 of the first tray section, between the upper bottom wall 16and the lower bottom wall 18. The side walls 42 of the second traysection 14 are slidably received between the side walls 22 of the firsttray section 12. The bottom wall 36 of the second tray section 14 issupported on the forward portion 28 of the lower bottom wall 18 of thefirst tray section 12. In this manner, the first and second traysections 12, 14 are connected and may be moved relative to one anotherto create a shipping unit 10 of variable length.

Referring to FIG. 2, the shipping unit 10 is also stackable on similarshipping units 10 a, 10 b. The base portions 29, 49 of the uppershipping unit 10 are supported on the side walls 22 a, 42 a of the lowershipping unit 10 a.

Referring to FIG. 3, in use, the trays 10 are adjusted to the properlength to accommodate the particular items, which in the exampleillustrated are bath tiles 50. The bath tiles 50, 50 a, 50 b are thenplaced inside the shipping units 10, 10 a, 10 b, respectively. Forstorage and for shipping, the trays 10 can be stacked upon one anotherwhile protecting the bath tiles 50. The tiles 50 and trays 10 can becarried by handles 26, 46. Although the invention is described for usewith bath tiles 50 for purposes of illustration, the invention can beused for any items that may have varying lengths.

A shipping unit 60 according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention is shown in FIG. 4. The shipping unit 60 includes a tray 62and lid 64. The tray 62 generally comprises a bottom wall 66 from whichbase portions 68 extend downwardly. Side walls 70 extend upwardly fromopposite sides of the bottom wall 66, while opposite ends between theside walls 70 are open. The lid 64 is connected to one of the side walls70 via a hinge 72. One of the ends of the lid 64 adjacent the hinge 72includes a tab 76 projecting outwardly, while the opposite end of thelid 64 includes a complementary slot 78 into which a tab 76 of a lid 64of a similar shipping unit 60 can be snap fit.

Referring to FIG. 5, the lid 64 includes a latch 80 at a side edgeopposite the hinge 72. The latch 80 snap fits over the side wall 70 whenthe lid 64 is in the closed position. As shown in FIG. 5, the shippingunit 60 can be connected to multiple shipping units, such as 60 a, toaccommodate items of different lengths. The shipping units 60, 60 a areconnected by snap fitting the tab 76 a (not visible) of one shippingunit 60 a into a slot 78 (shown in FIG. 4) of the other shipping unit60. In use, as many shipping units 60 as are needed to accommodate theentire length of the item 82 would be connected. In this manner, themultiple, connected shipping units 60, 60 a can accommodate items 82 ofvarious lengths. Again, although in the illustrated example, the items82 are bath tiles the invention would also be useful for other items. Asshown in FIG. 5, the two shipping units 60, 60 a are connected together.The bath tile 82 is then laid in the shipping units 60, 60 a and thelids 64 are closed. The bath tile 82 is stored and shipped in theconnected shipping units 60, 60 a, in which the bath tile 82 isprotected. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 6, these shipping units 60, 60a may be stacked upon additional connected shipping units 60 b, 60 calso containing bath tiles 82 b, 82 c.

While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described,it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe allpossible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in thespecification are words of description rather than limitation, and it isunderstood that various changes may be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention.

1. A shipping unit comprising: a first tray section having a bottom walland a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall; and a secondtray section having a bottom wall and a side wall extending upwardlyfrom the bottom wall, the first and second tray sections slidablyconnected to accommodate items of different lengths.
 2. The shippingunit of claim 1, wherein the bottom wall of the first tray sectionincludes an upper bottom wall spaced apart from a lower bottom wall, thedistance between the upper bottom wall and the lower bottom walldefining a slot.
 3. The shipping unit of claim 2, wherein the first traysection includes an end wall extending upwardly from the upper bottomwall, the end wall defining a handle on its outer surface.
 4. Theshipping unit of claim 3, wherein the first tray section includes anopen end opposite the end wall, the open end being adjacent to a forwardportion of the lower bottom wall.
 5. The shipping unit of claim 4,wherein the upper bottom wall does not extend above the forward portionof the lower bottom wall.
 6. The shipping unit of claim 5, wherein thesecond tray section includes an open end opposite an end wall, a tongueextending forwardly away from the open end and receivable in the slot ofthe first tray section.
 7. The shipping unit of claim 2, wherein thesecond tray section includes an open end opposite an end wall, a tongueextending forwardly away from the open end and receivable in the slot ofthe first tray section.
 8. The shipping unit of claim 1, wherein thefirst tray section and the second tray section include a plurality ofbase portions extending downwardly from the bottom walls.
 9. Theshipping unit of claim 8, wherein the shipping unit is a first shippingunit, the base portions of the first and second tray sections of a likesecond shipping unit are selectively supported on the side walls of thefirst and second tray sections of the first shipping unit to stack thesecond shipping unit on the first shipping unit.
 10. The shipping unitof claim 1, wherein the second tray section includes an end wallextending upwardly from the bottom wall, the end wall defining a handleon its outer surface.
 11. The shipping unit of claim 10, wherein thesecond tray section includes an open end opposite the end wall, a tongueextending forwardly away from the open end.
 12. The shipping unit ofclaim 11, wherein side wall of the first tray section is a first sidewall, the first tray section further including a second side wall, theside wall of the second tray section is a first side wall, the secondtray section further including a second side wall, the tongue of thesecond tray section selectively receivable within the first tray sectionsuch that the first and second side walls of the second tray section areslidably received between the first and second side walls of the firsttray section and the bottom wall of the second tray section is supportedon the bottom wall of the first tray section.
 13. A shipping unitcomprising: a first tray having a bottom wall, a side wall and a firstlid; a second tray having a bottom wall, a side wall and a second lid,the second tray selectively connectable to the first tray to accommodateitems of different lengths.
 14. The shipping unit of claim 13, whereinthe first tray and the second tray include base portions extendingdownwardly from the bottom walls.
 15. The shipping unit of claim 14,wherein the second tray is selectively supported on the first tray byplacing the base portions of the second tray on the side wall of thefirst tray to stack the second tray on the first tray.
 16. The shippingunit of claim 13, wherein the side wall of the first tray is one of apair of opposed side walls, and the side wall of the second tray is aone of a pair of opposed side walls, the opposed side walls of the firsttray and the second tray extending upwardly from the bottom walls todefine opposite open ends between the first and second side walls. 17.The shipping unit of claim 13, wherein the lids of the first and secondtrays are connected to the side wall by a hinge.
 18. The shipping unitof claim 17, wherein the lids of the first and second trays each includea latch opposite the hinge, the lid being selectively closable bysnapping the latch onto a second side wall opposite the side wall. 19.The shipping unit of claim 17, wherein the lids of the first and secondtrays each include an outwardly projecting tab, the outwardly projectingtabs located at an edge of the lid that is adjacent the hinge.
 20. Theshipping unit of claim 19, wherein the lids of the first and secondtrays each include a slot on an end of the lid that is opposite theoutwardly projecting tab.
 21. The shipping unit of claim 20, wherein thesecond tray is selectively connectable to the first tray by snapping theoutwardly projecting tab of the first tray into the slot of the secondtray.
 22. A shipping unit comprising: a first tray section having anupper bottom wall and a lower bottom wall with a slot defined betweenthe upper bottom wall and the lower bottom wall, a forward portion ofthe lower bottom wall adjacent an open end and extending past the upperbottom wall; and a second tray section having a bottom wall with an openend and a tongue extending away from the open end, the tongue of thesecond tray section selectively receivable within the slot of the firsttray section such that the bottom wall of the second tray section issupported on the forward portion of the lower bottom wall of the firsttray section.
 23. The shipping unit of claim 22, wherein the first traysection and the second tray section each include a first side wall and asecond side wall opposite the first side wall.
 24. The shipping unit ofclaim 23, wherein the first and second side walls of the second traysection are slidably receivable between the first and second side wallsof the first tray section.
 25. A shipping unit comprising: a bottomwall; a pair of opposed side walls extending upwardly from the bottomwall and defining opposite open ends therebetween; and a first lidconnected via a hinge to one of the side walls, the first lid includinga first tab projecting outwardly from an edge of the first lid adjacentthe hinge, the lid further including a first slot capable of receiving asecond tab of a second lid of a like second shipping unit.
 26. Theshipping unit of claim 25, wherein the first lid includes a latchopposite the hinge, the latch selectively connecting the first lid tothe one of the side walls.
 27. The shipping unit of claim 25 wherein thefirst slot is formed on an edge of the first lid opposite the first tab.